Home Security System Pricing 2026
Home security monitoring costs $0–$60/month; equipment runs $100–$900+. No-contract systems start at $9.99/month (Ring, SimpliSafe); professionally installed plans with a 2–3 year contract start at $28/month (ADT, Vivint).
Here's the short answer
- Self-monitoring: $0/month — SimpliSafe and Ring both work without a paid plan
- Cheapest pro monitoring: Ring AI Pro at $19.99/mo · SimpliSafe at $22.99/mo — no contract on either
- Mid-range 3-year total: ~$920–$1,060 (Ring or SimpliSafe starter kit + monitoring, no contract)
- Professional install: $2,000–$2,500+ over 3 years — ADT or Vivint, with contract or financing commitment
- Contract risk signal: ADT requires a 2–3 year monitoring contract · Vivint's equipment financing runs 42–60 months if not paid upfront
A transparent breakdown of equipment costs, monthly fees, and contract requirements for every major home security brand. Pricing verified from brand websites. Updated April 2026.
Not sure which system is actually the best overall value? See our best-value home security ranking →
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Taylor Smith — Founder & Editor
Nearly a decade in home security · Thousands of installations overseen · Built to cut through sales pressure
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Top picks at a glance
Comparing two brands? Start here:
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The pricing table below shows what each brand charges. Our free tools let you compare any two systems head-to-head, or decode a quote you already have.
How to read this pricing page
Three numbers every buyer should understand
1. Equipment cost
One-time purchase or financed over time. Includes sensors, keypad, and hub. For DIY systems you buy directly; for Vivint and ADT, installation is bundled in.
2. Monthly monitoring
Recurring fee for 24/7 professional alarm dispatch. Optional on most DIY systems — you can self-monitor for free. Required in some form on ADT professional-install plans.
3. Financing vs no-contract
"No monitoring contract" is not the same as "no financial commitment." Vivint's equipment financing runs 42–60 months — payments continue even if you cancel monitoring. ADT's 2–3 year monitoring contract creates a separate exit cost.
Quick rule: Total 3-year cost (equipment + monitoring × 36) is the fairest way to compare. See the table below.
Complete pricing comparison — all brands
| Brand | Equipment | Monthly monitoring | Contract | Installation | Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivint | $599–$1,500+ (pro install included) | $30–$60/month | None (pay upfront or finance) | Professional (same-day available) | 9.4/10 | View deal → |
| SimpliSafe | $230–$500 starter kit | $9.99–$79.99/month (professional monitoring from $22.99/mo; $9.99/mo = self-monitor only) | No contract | DIY (15–30 min) | 9.2/10 | View deal → |
| Ring Alarm | $200–$450 starter kit | $4.99–$99/month (24/7 professional monitoring requires AI Pro at $19.99/mo — Jan 2026 plan restructure) | No contract | DIY (20–45 min) | 8.8/10 | View deal → |
| Arlo | $100–$300 per camera | $12.99–$17.99/month | No contract | DIY (10–20 min) | 8.3/10 | View deal → |
| ADT | $400–$900+ (pro install included) | $24.99–$49.99/month (Self-Setup $24.99–$39.99 no contract; Pro Install $34.99–$49.99 on 36-month contract) | None (Self-Setup) or 36-month (Pro Install) | Professional (scheduled) or DIY (Self-Setup) | 8.4/10 | View deal → |
| Eufy Security | $150–$400 starter kit | Free (local) or $4.99–$9.99/month | No contract | DIY (20–40 min) | 8.2/10 | View deal → |
| Abode | $180–$400 starter kit | $8.49/month (Standard, user-initiated) or $26.99/month (Pro, 24/7 automated) | No contract | DIY (30–60 min) | 8.1/10 | View deal → |
| Cove Security | $200–$380 starter kit | $19.99–$29.99/month (raised from $17.99/$27.99 in 2026) | No contract | DIY (15–30 min) | 8/10 | View deal → |
| Wyze | $30–$100 cameras (no base kit) | $9.99/month (optional) | No contract | DIY (10–20 min) | 7.8/10 | View deal → |
Pricing verified April 2026 · Affiliate links marked · Disclosure · How we score
Additional fees to ask about before you sign
The monthly monitoring rate is what brands advertise. These six fee types are what can change your actual annual cost:
Activation / installation fee
$0–$200 depending on brand and current promotions. ADT and Vivint professional installs include it in equipment cost. DIY brands charge nothing.
False alarm fee
$25–$100+ per police dispatch after the first incident, charged by the municipality — not the security brand. Verify your local policy before your system goes live.
Cellular / backup surcharge
Some brands charge extra for cellular backup (which keeps your alarm working if internet goes down). SimpliSafe and Cove include it as standard. Ring Pro base station includes it. Abode and others add it separately.
Camera cloud storage
Camera recording plans are often billed separately from alarm monitoring — $3–$10/month per camera or per system depending on brand. Ring Protect, Arlo Secure, and Eufy plans all have separate tiers.
Battery replacement
Door/window sensors and motion detectors run on replaceable batteries. Budget $20–$60/year for a mid-sized system. Cove's Plus plan and some Vivint terms include equipment replacement coverage.
Annual monitoring rate increase
ADT and Vivint contracts typically permit rate increases after year one. If rate stability matters, ask for a written rate-lock guarantee before signing — or choose a no-contract brand where you can cancel if rates go up.
Contract and financing risk — two things to check before you buy
Vivint — what "no contract" actually means
- Monitoring is month-to-month — cancel any time, no fee
- Equipment is typically financed over 42–60 months
- Equipment payments continue even if you cancel monitoring
- After the financing period ends, the equipment is fully yours — no further obligation
- Paying equipment upfront eliminates the financing commitment entirely
Confirm your exact financing terms in the quote before signing.
ADT professional install — contract exit cost
- Professional install plans require a 2–3 year monitoring contract
- Early exit fee: ~75% of remaining contract value
- Example: cancel at month 12 of a 36-month plan at $49.99/mo (Complete Pro Install) = ~$900 penalty (24 months remaining × $49.99 × 75%)
- ADT Self Setup (DIY, $24.99/mo) has no contract and no exit fee
For a full brand-by-brand breakdown of lock-in risk across all nine brands we track, see our 2026 Contract & Pricing Transparency Report →
How to compare total cost
Equipment price is a one-time cost. Monthly monitoring is recurring. Over 3 years, a $230 kit + $22.99/month totals $1,057.64. A $600 kit + $29.99/month totals $1,679.64. The lower-monthly brand is not always the better deal — total 3-year cost (equipment + monitoring × 36) is the right number to compare.
3-year total cost examples
| Brand | Equipment | Monitoring/mo | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliSafe | $230 | $22.99 | ~$1,058 |
| Ring | $200 | $19.99 | ~$920 |
| ADT (pro install) | $600 | $38.99 | ~$2,004 |
| Vivint | $800 | $39.99 | ~$2,240 |
What drives the price difference?
- Professional installation — ADT and Vivint include it in equipment cost. DIY systems don't charge for it.
- Monitoring center quality — CSAA Five Diamond certification (ADT, SimpliSafe, Cove) costs more to operate — you pay a slight premium for redundancy.
- Contract requirements — ADT's 2–3 year contracts guarantee recurring revenue; DIY systems price monitoring monthly without that security.
- Camera quality — Arlo and Vivint's higher equipment cost reflects genuinely better hardware (4K, AI detection, longer battery life).
- Ecosystem depth — Ring's Amazon integration and Vivint's smart home automation justify premium pricing for the right buyer; they're not worth it for everyone.
Want to calculate your specific scenario? Run your numbers through the Cost Calculator →
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Independent research · April 2026
2026 Home Security Contract & Pricing Transparency Report
Every brand's true lock-in risk scored and ranked — Contract Risk Index scores, early exit fees, financing terms, and the exact questions to ask before signing. Covers all 9 brands we track.
Named Report · April 2026
SecurityCompassHQ 3-Year Total Cost Analysis 2026
Exact 36-month totals for 6 brands — equipment, activation, and monitoring — using a named, documented methodology. Cove $897 · Ring $919 · SimpliSafe $1,127 · ADT Self Setup $1,099 · ADT Professional $2,168 · Vivint (financed) $3,238.
Read the full analysis →Still deciding what you actually need? Build a free personalized plan → — takes about 3 minutes, no email required.
Frequently asked questions about pricing
What is the cheapest home security system with monitoring?
SimpliSafe's starter kits begin around $230 with monitoring from $9.99/month (self-monitoring, no dispatch) or $22.99/month for professional dispatch. Ring Alarm's AI Pro plan at $19.99/month also covers professional monitoring with no contract. For the absolute lowest monthly fee with alarm dispatch, SimpliSafe Standard at $22.99/month is currently the lowest professional-monitoring tier from a major brand.
Do you have to pay monthly for home security?
Not always. Several brands — including SimpliSafe and Ring — allow you to use the alarm system without a paid monitoring plan. You get app alerts, arm/disarm, and sensor function, but no professional dispatcher who can call police on your behalf. If you want 24/7 professional monitoring, expect $10–$60/month depending on the brand and plan.
How much does professional installation cost?
ADT and Vivint include professional installation in the equipment package — there's no separate installation line item. Their equipment costs ($400–$900 for ADT, $599–$1,500+ for Vivint) reflect the included technician setup. DIY systems (SimpliSafe, Ring, Eufy, Wyze) have zero installation cost — you set them up yourself in 15–45 minutes.
Is it cheaper to pay upfront or finance security equipment?
Paying upfront is almost always cheaper than financing. Vivint's financing terms (typically 42–60 months) don't always include explicit interest, but the total financed amount is higher than the upfront purchase price. More importantly, paying upfront for Vivint removes any monitoring contract obligation. If you finance, you're committed to payments for the full financing term regardless of monitoring status.
What is ADT's cancellation fee?
ADT's early termination clause typically requires paying approximately 75% of the remaining contract value. For a 36-month contract at $49.99/month (Complete Pro Install), canceling after 12 months could cost ~$900 (24 months remaining × $49.99 × 75%). ADT's Self-Setup plans have no long-term contract and no cancellation fee.
Which security system has the best price-to-quality ratio?
SimpliSafe scores highest on our value rubric — a $230–$500 starter kit with $22.99/month professional monitoring, no contract, and CSAA Five Diamond monitoring is difficult to beat at that price point. Ring AI Pro at $19.99/month is slightly cheaper for monitoring but lacks SimpliSafe's Core plan video verification feature. For premium buyers, Vivint's 9.4/10 overall score reflects its quality leadership, though equipment costs are significantly higher.
What does 'no contract' actually mean for Vivint?
Vivint's monitoring service is month-to-month — you can cancel monitoring at any time without a termination fee. The nuance is equipment financing. Most buyers finance the hardware over 42–60 months through a third-party lender. Those equipment payments continue independently of your monitoring status — canceling monitoring does not cancel the financing. After the financing period ends, the equipment is yours with no further obligation. If you want to avoid any multi-year financial commitment with Vivint, purchasing the equipment upfront (rather than financing) eliminates this entirely.
What hidden or additional fees should I watch for?
The monthly monitoring rate is rarely the full picture. Common add-on costs to ask about before signing: activation or installation fees ($0–$200 depending on brand and promotion), false alarm fees charged by local municipalities if police respond to a non-emergency (typically $25–$100 per incident after the first), cellular backup surcharges on brands where it's not standard, camera cloud storage fees billed separately from alarm monitoring, and battery replacement costs (door/window sensors use CR123A or AA batteries; motion detectors and keypads have larger cells — budget $20–$60 per year for a mid-sized system). Annual monitoring rate increases are also common: ADT and Vivint contracts typically permit rate increases after year one. Ask for a written rate-lock guarantee if it matters to you.
What happens to my security system if I move?
It depends on whether you own the equipment and whether you have a monitoring contract. DIY systems (SimpliSafe, Ring, Cove, Abode) are portable — you own the hardware and can uninstall, transport, and reinstall at a new address. Your monitoring service continues under the same plan; just update your address and emergency contact with the provider. Professional install systems are different: ADT and Vivint equipment is physically installed at the property, and relocating it involves a service call and potential new installation fees. If you're under an ADT or Vivint contract and want to move, check your contract for a relocation clause — ADT has a 'Mover's Security Guarantee' that allows transfer of monitoring service to a new address under specific conditions, though new installation fees may apply. Vivint handles moves case-by-case. If you're not yet locked in, and moving within 2–3 years is plausible, a no-contract DIY system is the lower-risk choice.
What is the average monthly cost of home security?
The honest range is $0 to $60+ per month depending on what you need. Self-monitoring is free with SimpliSafe and Ring — you get app alerts and arm/disarm with no monthly fee. Professional monitoring (24/7 dispatcher can call police on your behalf) starts at $19.99/month with Ring AI Pro or $22.99/month with SimpliSafe Standard — both with no contract. Mid-range plans with cameras and smart home features run $30–$45/month. ADT's professionally installed plans start at $44.99/month and can reach $60.99/month. Vivint monitoring runs $29.99–$44.99/month on top of equipment costs. The industry average for professional monitoring with a name-brand system is approximately $35–$45/month.
How do I calculate my 3-year total cost for a home security system?
Add three components: (1) upfront equipment cost, (2) any activation or installation fee, and (3) monthly monitoring fee × 36 months. Examples: SimpliSafe ($300 kit + $0 activation + $22.99 × 36) = $1,128 over 3 years. Ring Alarm ($200 kit + $0 + $19.99 × 36) = $920 over 3 years. ADT professional install ($400 equipment + $149 activation + $44.99 × 36) = $2,169 over 3 years. Vivint financed ($0 upfront + $49.99 equipment payment + $39.99 monitoring × 36) = $3,238 over 3 years. The 3-year total is the most useful comparison metric because it accounts for both equipment and monitoring together — monthly monitoring fees alone ignore the equipment investment.
Does SimpliSafe charge a monthly fee if I don't subscribe to monitoring?
No. SimpliSafe works without any paid subscription. You can arm and disarm via the app, receive sensor alerts on your phone, and use the full hardware set — all at $0/month. The only thing you lose without a paid plan is professional dispatch: no one will call the police on your behalf if the alarm triggers. Professional monitoring starts at $22.99/month (Standard) for 24/7 dispatch, or $32.99/month (Core) which adds live agent video verification before dispatch. There is no long-term contract on any SimpliSafe plan.
Is home security worth the monthly cost?
For most homeowners, yes — but the math depends on which tier you choose. Self-monitoring ($0/month) makes sense if you want notifications and deterrence without dispatch coverage. Professional monitoring at $20–$23/month adds a real safety layer: a trained dispatcher verifies your alarm and contacts emergency services when you can't respond. At $23/month, that's roughly $0.75/day. For renters or people with high-value contents, the calculus is clear. The question becomes more nuanced with professional install systems at $45–$60/month — at those prices, self-install systems with equivalent monitoring quality exist at roughly half the cost. The best value benchmark: SimpliSafe Standard at $22.99/month with CSAA Five Diamond monitoring — the lowest professional monitoring rate from a Five Diamond certified provider.
What to do next
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